The US expects India, an emerging global power, to provide it help and cooperation in stabilisation of the situation in neighbouring Pakistan and Afghanistan, a top administration official said on Monday.

In the first major foreign policy speech on India by a top Obama administration official, Deputy Secretary of State, James Steinberg, hoped that India would work with the US to help in fighting terrorists in Afghanistan and Pakistan and in establishing peace and democracy in the two countries.

"This week, President Obama would set out our own approach to this challenge," Steinberg said in his speech at the prestigious Brookings Institute, which had organised a day-long seminar on "The US-India Nuclear Agreement: Expectations and Consequences," Steinberg acknowledged India efforts in the development of Afghanistan in recent years.

"As (the Pak) President (Asif Ali) Zardari and the Pakistani government take courageous steps needed to confront and eliminate extremists, India and the US must work together with all our international partners to support them and facilitate democracy," Steinberg argued.

He said India has a big stake in the success of democratic government in Pakistan and is playing a very important role in South Asia. "We encourage India to continue that," he said.

"India has a big stake in the success of democratic government in Pakistan," Steinberg said, adding a strong and democratic government in Pakistan can take on the challenges, which are a threat to Pakistan, to the US and countries in the region.

He said as Pakistan takes steps to counter these challenges, India should be supportive towards its efforts and help it in creating an environment that helps the government in its endeavour, he asserted.